Oxnard (26-8), ranked No. 1 in the Southern California coaches’ poll and No. 5 in Perfect Game’s national poll, now can begin preparing for the postseason, which begins April 29.

The Condors should be ready. Hard-throwing pitcher Patrick Weigel returned to the mound in Thursday’s 8-7 win at Los Angeles Valley, pitching for the first time since leaving in the ninth inning of the March 20 no-hitter against Santa Barbara.

The St. Bonaventure High product hit 99 mph on the speed gun while striking out the side.

With the pitching staff intact, this season’s new regional format, which features three Best-of-3 series rather than the old four-team, double-elimination design, should be especially agreeable to the Condors, especially if they earn homefield advantage as a top two seed.

“We couldn’t ask for a better situation, with three legit (starters) in a two out of three (series),” Larson said. “It’s a huge advantage to be a No. 1 or a 2 (seed).”

Oxnard in second in the region in ERA (2.02) and opponent’s batting average (.205).

Oxnard can lock up a top seed by sweeping this week’s two-game series with cellar-dweller Cuesta, the final games on its regular season schedule.

Should Oxnard keep winning, the Condors’ Nest could see postseason baseball May 2-3, May 9-11 and May 16-18. The state Final Four is May 24-26 in Fresno.

Making their decisions:

Knowing she was going to have to say no many more times than yes, Lisa Marie Sanchez didn’t enjoy the recruiting attention during the season.

So it was no surprise when the state co-Player of the Year and CCCAA state tournament MVP became the first member of the Ventura College women’s basketball team’s sought-after sophomore class to choose a transfer destination last week, picking Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Record-setting guard Cynthia Hernandez is next up. Having visited Rutgers and Hawaii over the past two weekends, the Santa Clara and Buena High product is expected to choose this week between those two schools and UC Santa Barbara.

Power forward Adrianne Sloboh has visited NCAA Division 2 foes Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles, and plans to visit Loyola New Orleans. Center Brooke Dixon, who is in the midst of track season, has visited Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Shooting guard Adrianna Vega, who is being recruited by several Division 2 and NAIA schools, has been accepted academically to UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

“I have a lot to think about,” Vega said.

On the town:

Most of the state champion Ventura College women’s basketball team will be around Ventura Monday from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in support of its May 4 Alumnae Classic, state championship banner-raising ceremony and barbecue.

Coach Ned Mircetic and selected players will be selling tickets in downtown Ventura, at the Pacific View Mall and at the Barnes and Noble on Telephone Road. Tickets ($10, $25 for game and barbecue) can also be purchased at http://www.VCWePlayHard.com.

Alumnae who have committed to play against the current sophomores include state champions Marina Torres-Reyes ’97, Trina Ayala ’00, Monique Taylor ’02, Erica McGuire Jordan ’02 and Kelly Fay ’03; All-Americans Indira Kaljo ’08 and Jessi Selleh ’09, as well as Hanna Burge ’13, the current CCCAA state Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

All-American Amirah Leonard ’98 is expected to referee. Miami Heat first-round draft pick James Ennis ’11 will also make an appearance.